Vent cap for storage batteries



July 31, 1951 G. F. CO'UCHEY 2,562,604

VENT CAP FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed June 1, 1949 3mm Ge0r geE0ucfiey Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE vENT CAP FOR STORAGE BATTERIES I George F. Couchey, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 1, 1949, Serial No. gator K 1 Claim. (01. isc is'iz This invention relates to storage batteries and more particularly to vent caps of such batteries.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a vent cap of the character indicated above automatically indicating the supply of water or acid in the storage battery, when applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vent cap of the character indicated above permitting refilling of the battery when needed without removing the vent cap.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved vent caps of storage batteries whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an embodi ment of a vent cap in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a view in section in an enlarged scale of the vent cap as shown in Figure 1 illus- K trated as applied to a storage battery.

The vent cap as embodied herein comprises an elongated hollow body I having an open bottom II from which a circumferential wall I2 extends upwardly at substantially ninety degrees. The upper portion I3 of the body I I] has a slightly enlarged outside diameter and is provided with an outside thread as at I4 fitting into the tapped hole I5 provided in the top I6 of a standard battery casing B.

On the top end portion of the upper threaded portion I3 of the hollow bottom M an outwardly projecting hollow circumferential flange I1 is formed the inside of which communicates with the interior of the hollow body Ill. The underside of the hollow flange I1 is disposed flatly on the top surface of the upwardly extending flange I8 surrounding the tapped hole I5 in the top I6 of the batteryi case B, when the vent cap is applied to a batteryease.

In the top wall I9 of the hollow flange I'I an opening 20 is arrangedg'substantially coaxial with the hollow inside of the body Ill. An overflow chamber 2| is formed coaxially with and on top of the hollow flange I1 and the top wall I9 of said flange is at the same time the central portion of the bottom wall 22 of the chamber 2 I, which projects circumferentially beyond the hollow flange A tapped opening 23 is provided in the wall 24 of the overflow chamber 2| and is arranged substantially coaxial with the opening 20 in the top wall I9 of the hollow flange II. A closure 24 is threaded on its circumference as at 25 and fits threadedly into the tapped opening 23. Centrally of the closure 24 an'opening 26 is provided and holes 21 are arranged in said closure equidistantly from thecentral opening 26 and diametrically opposite to each other.

Adjacent to the circumference of the overflow chamber 2| an inlet opening 28 is provided in the top wall 24 of the overflow chamber 2I and is surrounded by a flange 29 extending at right angles to said top wall.

A plurality of vents 30 are arranged in the circumferential wall I2 of the body I0 adjacent to the lower edge of the threaded upper portion I3 of said wall.

A float body 3| is located inside the hollow body I0 and a stem 32 secu red to the float body extends upwardly therefrom and through the opening 20 in the top wall I9 of the hollow flange I1; and the tapped opening 23 in the top wall 24 of the overflow chamber 2|. The closure is screwed into the opening 23 and the stem 32 extends slidably through the central hole 26 in said closure. Along the stem 32 of the float 3| markings 33 are arranged at predetermined suitable distances from each other.

When the above described vent cap is mounted on a filled storage battery the liquid 34 lifts the float body 3| upwardly sliding the stem 32 so that the level of the liquid 34 in the battery case B can be ascertained by simply looking at the exposed markings 33 on the stem 32. Gas developing in the battery casing enters the body Ill and flows upwardly into the overflow chamber 2|, where it cools and condenses into liquid, which returns then through the opening 20 into the body I2. The level of the liquid in said body and in the battery is the same since the bottom I I of the body I0 is open.

When the arrangement of the stem 32 in relation to the closure 24 indicates the need of refilling the battery casing B liquid is poured through the inlet opening 28 until the exposed markings 33 on the stem 32 indicate that the liquid level is at a satisfactory height.

The closure 24 is inserted in or removed from the tapped opening 23in the top wall 24 of the overflow chamber 2| by inserting a suitable tool (not shown) in the holes 2'! and imparting to the closure the required rotary movement.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that vent caps of storage batteries constructed in accordance with my invention are particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which they may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

A vent cap for storage batteries comprising an elongated hollow body having an open bottom, the upper portion of the body being exteriorly screw threaded for engagement in a filler open-- ing of a standard battery, a hollow annular flange formed on top of the body, an annular overflow chamber of a greater diameter than that of said flange formed on top of the latter, the interiors of the chamber, the flange and the body intercommunicating with each other by means of coaxially disposed openings, the top wall of the overflow chamber having an opening disposed coaxially with the other openings, a closure removably seated within the opening in said top wall and provided with a central aperture, a float 4 within thebody,astemrisingiromsaidfloatand slidable through the aperture in the closure provided with graduated marks.

GEORGE 1'. COUCH] 

